Un Camello De Mascota Para Raja
La Magia De La Esperanza
By Anita Amin
Illustrated by Parwinder Singh
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Empathy and perseverance take center stage in this sweet picture book about a boy’s love for his (unusual) pet.
Raja had always wanted a pet, but most animals in India worked - they weren’t for play. But when he stumbled upon a scared, baby camel, Raja saw an opportunity to have a pet of his own.
It wasn’t long before there were smashed pots, broken fences, and a big mess everywhere! Kamal was a wild camel with wild ways and Raja’s father was not pleased. Fed up with the mess, his father was determined to sell him at the next fair.
Follow Raja and Kamal’s adventures as they try to find a way to stay a team. This tale of unconditional love and hope is sure to enchant any animal-loving child.
With illustrations that detail the bright colors of India and the Thar Desert, Raja’s Pet Camel by Anita Nahta Amin carries the key message of perseverance, tradition and love supported by the many advocates of positive parenting solutions.
The free downloadable Reader’s Guide includes lesson plans on nouns and verbs, and activities and discussion questions that allow parents, teachers and caregivers to explore the book further and deepen comprehension.
Published Reviews
In Torgan-Randall’s picture book, a duck-obsessed girl makes a friend at summer camp after she learns how to listen to others.
Margaret, depicted as a white-skinned, brown-haired girl (rather in the Charlie Brown mold), prefers to be called Ducky. She is obsessed with ducks, and, while attending camp, she works duck facts into every conversation and activity, often talking over her peers (and even the counselor). No one else is much interested, and one boy in particular—red-haired Marvin[4]—loses patience with Margaret’s garrulous duck fixation. “YOU ARE NOT A DUCK! YOU ARE MARGARET!” he tells her. Margaret is momentarily saddened, but she cheers up for the learn-to-swim activity. There, she lends her duck-shaped float-aid to Marvin. Her duck knowledge proves useful, and, more importantly, she learns about Marvin’s own obsession: rocks. Now that their interaction is less one-sided, Margaret and Marvin become friends. Torgan-Randall narrates Margaret’s tale in straightforward, non-rhyming prose, arranging pictures and text so that dialogue appears in natural blank spaces near the speaker. The present-tense constructions and faux-handwritten font lend a sense of immediacy. Torgan-Randall’s illustrations, which are hand-drawn and then digitally refined, evoke the open, ingenuous existence of young children. The campers are ethnically diverse, and all of the characters display distinct personalities (even Bill, the duck float-aid). A pre-story checklist of questions encourages readers to think about listening, communication, and friendship.
A fun, quirky little story about thriving individuality and social integration.